Cops: Upper Darby man facing charges after lewd acts

UPPER DARBY -- A man suspected of committing lewd acts that alarmed Drexel Hill residents over the past three years resurfaced this weekend and was captured, police said.

The alleged indecent exposure incidents and lewd acts were reported primarily by school girls and women in the Drexel Park neighborhood in late summer 2011 and again in February and March of 2012.

Ronald Pierucci, 36, of the 800 block of Gainsboro Road, Drexel Hill, was arrested Sunday for an alleged indecent exposure incident at 5:30 p.m. Saturday on School Lane and Argyle Road in the same Drexel Park neighborhood.

"This time the victim was able to provide a license plate number of the 1999 Dodge Caravan," police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said. "A check revealed that Pierucci was one of the two listed owners of the vehicle and fit the description. He was identified in a photo array by the victim.

"There was another incident reported Feb. 25 last year by a 15-year-old involving a similar-type vehicle. We're charging him with these two now and will eventually file additional charges under plan, scheme and design for the others.

"This guy is a sicko. His whole criminal record, dating to 2007, is harassment and stalking and harassment by communication. He's a predator and admitted he can't control himself and doesn't know how to stop. I'm just glad he's off the streets."

According to police accounts, the weekend incident involved a report of a man in a purple minivan exposing himself to a jogger who was running on School Lane in the vicinity of Argyle Road.

"This guy pulled over and leaned over into the passenger side to see her," Chitwood said. "She stated the man had on gray sweatpants that were pulled down. He was masturbating while looking at her. This is the same type of lewd conduct reported by other females in the same neighborhood when we did a full-court press with undercover officers, extra patrols and helicopter searches. This guy is a time bomb. Our goal is to get the picture of that van out there to see if anybody else recognizes it."

The eight incidents previously reported involved females ranging from 15 to 26 years of age. Five occurred in the early morning hours between 6:33 and 8:14 a.m. and three others between 3:15 and 5:20 p.m.

The description of the alleged predator was similar, but the description and color of the vehicle varied. Pierucci was arraigned Monday on charges of indecent exposure involving a victim less than 16 years old and indecent exposure and two counts each of open lewdness and harassment.

Magisterial District Judge Harry Karapalides set bail at 10 percent of $100,000 and ordered a psychiatric evaluation pending a preliminary hearing March 20 in district court.